After The Rental

With the Cubs not worth watching, time has been available to watch DVDs. This time, the Netflix que churned out a winner.

What a phenomenal series. David Brent may be the worst manager combined with the most narcissistic individual ever portrayed on camera. In fact, if you've ever actually worked in an office environment, you are thankful your boss isn't as bad as Brent.

Series 1 plays out much as a formula piece than does Series 2. You wonder as you watch Series 1, how does Brent keep his job? Series 2 answers that question.

But what brings the whole thing together are the two Christmas Specials. Brent goes from bad boss to truly loathsome in these episodes. But the writers, Ricky Gervais (who plays Brent) and Steven Merchant, are somehow able to redeem Brent with a single line to Finchy.

The love story between Tim and Dawn is also non-traditionally handled during the first two series. And, while their end in the specials is predictable, it still comes off as satisfying (in no small part to Dawn's secret Santa gift).

But perhaps the best thing about this show (and BBC's Coupling as well) is that it ended at the right time. Instead of US Network requirements of 100 episodes so that the series can be stripped and sold for syndication, the BBC allows the writers to show the audience that less is more. I believe there are a total of 14 episodes. All well worth watching.

Makes me want to see if Dunder-Mifflin is anywhere near as wild of a company compared to Wernham-Hogg.

Ivy Chat rating: Home Run